After several days of relatively little movement, the Zaca Fire exploded, advancing more than three miles within a few hours this morning. At 9 a.m. there was little indication the fire was ready to move, with the smoke and fire contained to isolated locations near Santa Cruz Peak and further north near the Mission Pine Ridge.

However, by 11 a.m. the fire was cooking. At Live Oak Fire Camp the thunderhead could be seen building and was so large it appeared as if it were threatening the camp itself. However, from the observation point near Santa Marcos Pass it was clear the fire line was moving rapidly to the east, eating up huge chunks of the upper parts of Santa Cruz Canyon.

By Ray Ford

Massive thunderhead of smoke fills the sky over Little Pine Mountain. More than 4 miles wide, 100’ high flames can be spotted at times. The fire line threatens to cross Buckhorn Road this afternoon.

By 1 p.m., the towering thunderhead was located almost directly over Little Pine Mountain and to the north, more than likely burning out the East Fork of Santa Cruz drainage.

Fire officials have decided to issue an evacuation warning for the Paradise area and residents should be notified shortly. They are also in discussions as to whether to close Paradise Road to the public as well.

Zaca GIS section

Map of Zaca Fire, August 3, 2007

Further into the interior, the fire is threatening to move over the crest of Mission Pine ridge and head down towards the Sisquoc River. Yesterday, afternoon the fire crossed Mission Pine Trail west of the Basin and uphill to a point where it could start downhill into the Sisquoc drainage. Today, the drama in this area has been overshadowed by the rapid expansion of the fire line north of Little Pine.

Courtesy of Forest Service

Fire moves across the Mission Pine ridge and threatens to move into the Sisquoc.

Courtesy of Forest Service

On Thursday the fire crossed Mission Pine Trail just west of the Basin. Hot shots have been sent in from both sides in an attempt to build line around the breach. A DC-10 capable of carrying 10 ton loads of retardant will be used to day to support them.

Though this rapid movement of the fire line may actually be good news for the Paradise residents, it represents a major expansion of the fire. Tomorrow we may be talking about a fireline that extends east into the Dick Smith Wilderness.

Your photos are incredible and very much appreciated. It's hard to fathom the destruction. I climbed to the top of Little Pine Mt. several years ago and there were towering pine trees at the top. I hope they survived.